DARTS: Trio miss Oxon match to take PDC shot (From Bicester Advertiser)

DARTS: Trio miss Oxon match to take PDC shot

9:00am Tuesday 15th January 2013 in Sport

OXFORDSHIRE’S team to face Surrey this weekend has been weakened as three players take part in the PDC’s Qualifying School.

Jon Jukes, Stuart White and Stuart Dutton are among the 250-strong field taking part in the competition at the Robin Park Tennis Centre in Wigan.

The trio are all hoping to claim one of the 22 cards for the 2013 PDC season which are up for grabs when the four-day event begins on Thursday.

Dutton is looking to regain a place on the circuit, while White came close last year.

County teammate Graham Manning said: “It could be a big weekend for them.

“Jon is playing to a high standard at the moment and the other two are quite capable of getting through.

“It’s just a matter of how they play on the day and you need a bit of luck in the draw as well, because you can get very good players in the field who have lost their card.”

The competition clashes with Oxfordshire’s home game against Surrey in the Premier Division of the British Inter Counties Championship this weekend.

Despite losing three top players, Manning is optimistic the home side will have enough to bounce back from a heavy defeat at Essex in their previous match, by beating rock bottom Surrey.

He said: “Oxfordshire have a strong team, although they are three of our better players the men’s A are all good.

“Hopefully we will do all right.”

Ronnie Anderson is one of those given an opportunity in the trio’s absence.

Shirley Castle has moved up to the ladies A, alongside Deta Hedman, who will be looking to bounce back from a first round defeat to Lisa Ashton at the Lakeside BDO World Darts Championship this month.

Phil Addison returns to the Men’s B, where Josh McCarthy will make his debut.

Darren Hammond and Brendan Kearns have both been selected following their good starts in the Super League.

The games will be played at Bicester Ex-Service’s club, starting at 11am on Saturday and Sunday.

OXON LINE-UPS

Men’s A: R Anderson, M Burgione, N Cobb, T Davies, P Hall (GWRSA Club Didcot), D Kidd, P Krabben, A Larner, D Lockyer, K Lowe, L Russell, D Smith.

Men’s B: P Addison, K Bedding, M Kearns, J McCarthy, G Manning (Sandvik Coromant), J Newland, D Newman, J Palmer,S Robinson, J Russell, A Stevens, A Thomas (ACG Labels).

Res: S Dutton (Vauxhall Kidlington), D Hammond, J Jukes, B Kearns, E Lilly, S White, S Wright.

Ladies A: C Bywaters, F Carmichael, S Castle, S Cox, B Grant, D Hedman.

Ladies B: Cath Birch, T Borton, N Curzon, T Hamilton, K Ledbury, J Newman (Duke of Cumberlands Head).

Res: Cali Birch, L Jennings, L Jones, B Manning.